Sound Tiger Niederreiter shrugs off trade talk

Updated 12:12 am, Thursday, January 24, 2013

BRIDGEPORT -- Not that he's going anywhere (except maybe Long Island) anytime soon, but Nino Niederreiter is still a Bridgeport Sound Tiger.

He didn't seem fazed Wednesday at the Wonderland of Ice after reports Tuesday that his agent had asked the New York Islanders to trade him, two years into his entry-level contract.

"I just play hockey," Niederreiter said after Bridgeport's practice. "I do what I can control, and the rest is whatever my agent feels is best for me."

ESPN New York first reported the request Tuesday. Newsday reported that the Islanders aren't inclined to deal the 20-year-old, their first-round draft pick in 2010.

Niederreiter played last year in the NHL; he couldn't be sent to the AHL for more than two weeks because of rules governing players drafted out of junior hockey.

He has led Bridgeport in scoring most of this year but didn't get a call up to the Islanders when the NHL lockout ended.

"I just do what I can control the best I can on the ice," Niederreiter said, saying he didn't want to share details of his conversations with Islanders officials.

Niederreiter went into Wednesday 10th in the AHL with 36 points. His 19 goals in 39 games ranked fifth.

He scored two of those goals in the first game after the Islanders called up six players. He had no points in two games over the weekend, held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games for only the fifth time in 40 games. He has picked up time on the penalty kill in recent weeks.

ROSTER NOTES: Overloaded with defensemen, Bridgeport released T.J. Fast from his pro tryout. Fast didn't play after signing on Jan. 11. ... Rookie centerman Johan Sundstrom remained out of practice after taking a high hit in Saturday's win over Binghamton. He missed Sunday's loss to Springfield.